... an engaging and informative foreword by David Cole...offers a good summary of the impressive array of momentous victories the ACLU has achieved, as discussed in these pages ... Readers will find it refreshing to read a collection of essays about court decisions written mostly by novelists. Far be it for me to complain about the way lawyers write, but it is certainly welcome to consider the impact and relevancy of important judicial decisions outside the strict boundaries of legal and constitutional interpretation and instead through the lens of lived experiences, full of struggle, emotion, fear, resilience, hope, and triumph ... giv[es] some of the most important court decisions of the last 100 years a human dimension and added relevance and urgency. The writers achieve this by illuminating the personal stories behind the legal decisions and by connecting their own lives to the legal issues at stake.
The predigested fact patterns that litigators deem suitable for court consumption are bland fare for a novelist’s palate, so it’s enlightening to watch some of our most masterly literary portraitists restore the warts and wardrobes, the motivations and machinations to those whose stories have been stripped down to surnames or pseudonyms ... These accounts illuminate how lawyers, as well as authors, must be skillful narrative crafters, pruning and stretching the unruly features of real life to fit the law’s Procrustean parameters ... I was disappointed not to see Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission — possibly the most notorious Supreme Court case of the millennium — among the cases selected for discussion here, particularly since, in recent years, it’s been increasingly difficult to find mention of the A.C.L.U.’s role in Citizens United or its continuing opposition to campaign finance reform efforts ... Given that this book so often lauds the A.C.L.U. for its defense of unpopular causes, it’s troubling that the A.C.L.U.’s own most unpopular recent case gets such short shrift ... perhaps the public can be forgiven its appetite for courtroom heroes; perhaps the writers can indulge in some happy — albeit temporary — endings; and perhaps the A.C.L.U. deserves to take a victory lap for its many indisputable acts of heroism, and to put out of mind, for the moment, the uncertain road forward.
Some of the essays are cerebral and analytical; others are meditative and achingly personal. All of the entries are compelling, and the overall strength of the collection—never a given in anthologies with dozens of contributors—is a credit to the A-list roster that Chabon and Waldman have gathered[.]
... a unique collection of essays by a wide range of individuals whose body of work spreads far beyond traditional legal writing ... Each piece sheds light on the work of the ACLU as this remarkable organization shaped our Constitution and our country ... it speaks volumes about the ACLU and its philosophy that a book on major decisions allows one writer to vehemently criticize its position ... an inspiring and thoughtful book that attorneys and all citizens will find befitting of the ACLU’s substantial impact on American law and society.
Chabon and Waldman have created a stunning collection of original and topical essays ... Geraldine Brooks, Yaa Gyasi, Timothy Egan, Aleksandar Hemon, Salman Rushdie, Marlon James, and an inspired host of other sharp and clarion minds vividly bring consequential court cases to life and recognize the essential work of the ACLU’s intrepid, principled lawyers and the sacrosanct rule of law.
... powerful, inspiring essays ... Fittingly, the book’s standout essay is also its most contrarian: novelist and lawyer Scott Turow delivers an impassioned takedown of the ACLU’s long-standing position that political spending is protected under the First Amendment ... Vigorous, informative, and well-organized, this outstanding collection befits the ACLU’s substantial impact on American law and society.
A well-curated collection ... a finely edited almanac of lively, contextually grounded stories that read like the greatest hits of freedom. Written by some of today’s most popular and celebrated authors, these essays serve as history lessons, cautionary tales, and calls to arms ... Throughout, the contributors deftly handle the promises and challenges of the courts and their decisions ... a timely and cohesive love song for freedom, sung by an impressive roster of contributors ... Fiery, focused, bold voices address groundbreaking decisions.
